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Youthreach
students from Ballaghaderreen recently hosted a group of young
people from Libiaz in Poland.
The project was funded through Leargas.
The aim of the exchange, which was supported by the VEC,
was for the young people to have fun whilst learning.
The groups have been planning for a number of months and
the outcome was felt to be good by everybody that participated.
The
program was based around social learning, looking at similarities
in the cultures and how young people were much the same in both
countries. Libiaz was
once a mining community.
While
on the exchange the group visited places of interest including the
Arigna Mining Experience, Lough Key Forest Park and Boyle town.
There was also day of arts and crafts in the Youthreach
centre, where members of the group got to make Celtic design
t-shirts or carve a design in bog oak.
Inviting
Senator Frank Feighan and Cllr Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan for an
evening of discussion in young people and politics, was something
organisers felt would be an interesting inclusion into the
program. They talked
about how young people might participate politically at local and
national levels, international and global levels were also talked
about. The young
people also enjoyed it, although they were initially shy, some
really relished the banner, a visit to the Dail was well received,
unfortunately due to the schedule the House was not sitting.
The group had an excellent day visiting fine museums in
Dublin and an exceptionally good trip to Kilmainham Jail.
The
exchange was very valuable. The
leaders felt that they had accomplished what they intended to do -
open the minds of the young people, encourage good hosting,
develop tolerance, raise awareness and create new friendships.
The groups enjoyed the seven-day exchange.
The
members of the Polish group were very impressed with friendliness
and hospitality shown to them.
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